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Multi-Faith
Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy
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Home | News | Bulletins | About MFGHC | Council | Resources | Links | Forum | Index |
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Multi-Faith
Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy
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.....advancing multi-faith healthcare chaplaincy. |
| Bulletin No 6 October 2004 | ||
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The Bulletin is published every four months inform colleagues about the work being undertaken by the Council and its Committees.
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Previous Editions of the BULLETIN
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MULTI-FAITH
GROUP FOR HEALTHCARE CHAPLAINCY
BULLETIN 6 - October 2004 Chairman: Chief
Officer: |
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Welcome to the Bulletin of the Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy (MFGHC). This Bulletin is distributed every four months to inform colleagues about the work being undertaken by the Council and its Committees. Welcome……to the Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains The Revd
Peter Wells was welcomed to the September Council meeting as the representative
of the Association. The Council has bid farewell to Paul Seto, spokesperson for the Buddhist community, who had returned to Australia; to Valerina Clark, spokesperson for the Bahá'ís community whose period of membership has ended; and to Christine Pocock, spokesperson for the Free Churches community who was retiring in October. The Chair paid tribute to Christine's contribution to the work of multi-faith
chaplaincy and of the Council and its Education Committee. She had given
unstintingly of her time, energy and love for which all members were
grateful. Review of Department of Health central allocation of funding for NHS chaplaincy The Council noted that Mr James' report had been published on the website of the Department of Health. In introducing discussion, the Chair indicated his concern about the failure of the report to make provision in its proposals for support for the MFGHC, particularly as funding under Section 64 had been rejected. He regretted that the Group might need to continue its reliance on resources provided by the Churches without being able to reach an independent state. On behalf of the Free Churches chaplaincy, Christine Pocock indicated that she was content with the agreement to continue funding of her post which would otherwise have lapsed. Similarly, Martin van den Bergh welcomed the agreement to continue funding his post for Jewish chaplaincy even though this was conditional on the acceptance of a wider remit. He shared the concern of the Chair that the Government appeared to pay lip service to new ventures but had not provided actual support. Although the funding for world faith chaplaincies was welcomed, it was not clear how the detail had been determined, especially as the two largest Christian chaplaincies appeared to be excluded from funding support. This was particularly difficult when assumptions had apparently been made about the availability of their resources. It was suggested that the report was a vision limited by funding and one which therefore reduced support for the whole in favour of small unequal portions. Concern was also expressed that the report did not deal adequately with the implementation of proposals. It was not clear where the new posts would be based nor how their employment would be achieved. A number of different expectations had been raised on these issues and the report appeared to suggest that funding had been increased which members did not believe. The funding of the four posts appeared to be unequal and therefore inequitable. The Council considered that there was an overall advantage in accepting
the report as it sustained current funding which could have been removed.
This was agreed and the Council also agreed to pursue a communications
strategy which built on the progress made together and provided a co-ordinated
representation about the need to support the Group's activities. Continuing Personal and Professional Development The Council received copies of correspondence following the meeting facilitated by the Chief Nursing Officer including her statement of the agreed outcome; Barbara Walsh's letter convening a meeting of the stakeholders to engender partnership working through collaboration over continuing personal and professional development; and the paper prepared by SYWDC which was to form the basis of discussion at the meeting. The Council supported the development of partnership working and looked forward to a further report in due course. The Chair reported correspondence from the President of the College
of Health Care Chaplains about a joint training event. As this had not
been part of the agreed action from the facilitated meeting, he had
suggested that the other actions should be concluded first. It was noted
however that MFGHC and the College of Health Care Chaplains had agreed
to exchange observers at their meetings. Draft standards for spiritual healthcare The Council received a copy of the draft standards proposed by the Standards Committee in response to those outlined by the Department of Health for the NHS generally. These were welcomed and endorsed. Tim Battle reported that he had received advice about the presentation
of standards to healthcare organisations generally during a recent meeting
with the Health Quality Service, formerly the accreditation arm of the
King's Fund. He had agreed to accept proposals for re-drafting the draft
standards into a more "acceptable" format which he would submit
to the Co-Chairs of the Standards Committee when received. On this basis,
it was agreed to postpone discussion of the consultative process until
the next meeting. Celebrating the achievements of the first two years In discussion about how best to publicise the progress which had been
made in its inaugural period, the Council agreed to seek funding from
SYWDC to support the reconvening of the multi-faith consultation group
in mid-2005 in order to report progress following the end of the 1997
work programme and the two years of the Group itself. In the context,
there was support for the production of a biennial report. In concluding his work with Council meetings, Barney Leith thanked all members for their help and support during the Council's first two years. Their fellowship and unity had carried the Council and its Chair through challenging but enjoyable times. On behalf of all members, Martin van den Burgh thanked the Chair for his tireless efforts on behalf of the Council. The Council agreed to meet again on Tuesday 18th January, Wednesday
18th May and Wednesday 14th September 2005 and on Wednesday 18th January
2006. STOP PRESS: "Standards for Better Health" - the Department of Health's consultation on Health Care Standards for services under the NHS The Department of Health appears to have heeded those including the Council who argued for the inclusion of spirituality in these standards. Reference to spirituality is now included in the final version (July 2004), a small start in raising awareness of spiritual healthcare further. Report of a study day for world faith chaplains held on 17th March 2004 at The Derby Royal Infirmary Communicating the work of the MFGHC The MFGHC has established a website (www.mfghc.com)
where its work will be highlighted. It intends to publish an e-bulletin
about its progress every four months. For routine communication, Edward
Lewis can be contacted at the address given below.
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